Farm to Table in Early Childhood: A Journey with Boots on the Farm Consulting, LLC
Farm-to-table learning brings fresh, local ingredients to the table, creating rich experiences that engage young children with the journey their food takes from the farm to their plates. This approach to early childhood education inspires curiosity, builds healthy habits, and connects kids with the natural world around them.
Building Relationships at the Farmers Market: More Than Just Shopping
A trip to the farmers market is more than just a chance to pick up fresh, local produce—it’s an opportunity to build connections with the people who work hard to grow the food we enjoy. Meeting farmers face-to-face can transform a simple shopping trip into a meaningful experience that benefits everyone involved.
October Garden Highlights: Explore and Observe with a Garden Scavenger Hunt!
This month, the garden becomes a classroom in itself, where every change can spark a conversation and every task can be a learning experience. It’s a reminder that, even as we prepare for winter, there’s still so much growth and discovery to be had.
Seasonal Shopping at the Farmers Market: What’s Fresh and Why You Should Care
There’s something magical about stepping into a space where the seasons dictate what’s available, and the produce is as fresh as it gets. If you’re not already a farmers’ market regular, let me tell you why you might want to start—and what you can expect to find this season.
September in the Garden: Growing Young Minds with Early Childhood Education Gardens
September has always held a special place in my heart as an early childhood educator. It’s a time of new beginnings—fresh faces in the classroom, the excitement of a new school year, and the start of cooler weather that breathes new life into our garden. For me, the garden is not just a place to grow plants, but a vibrant classroom where young children can explore, learn, and connect with nature in meaningful ways.
Farmers Market 101: A Beginner’s Guide to Purchasing Local Foods
This article has been written by Alicia Jordan, a partner of the Alabama Farm to ECE Coalition. Alicia is a dedicated small farmer with a passion for sustainable agriculture and community engagement. As the owner of Boots on the Farm Consulting, LLC, she combines her background as a former early childhood education teacher with her […]
Discovering the Sensory Benefits of Gardening for Young Children
As a Boots on the Farm consultant, Alicia Jordan has the privilege of seeing firsthand how nature can positively impact children. Gardening is not just about planting seeds and harvesting vegetables; it’s a powerful tool for sensory exploration and learning.
Little Sprouts: A Step-by-Step Guide for Planting Seeds with Young Children
Planting seeds with young children can be a fun and educational experience that introduces them to the wonders of nature and growing plants. Here are some tips to make the process engaging and safe for young children.
Learning and Growing Together: Auburn University of Montgomery Early Learning Center’s Farm to ECE Success Story
This past fall, Auburn University of Montgomery (AUM)’s Early Learning Center took part in the Farm to ECE Learning Collaborative! Being involved in the Learning Collaborative has sparked a love for gardening among them, especially for Lead Teacher Chelsea. Chelsea now shares what she learns every day about gardening with the children in her classroom.
Tips for Starting a Garden in an Early Childhood Setting
Gardening activities are a great way to get children involved with nature while teaching them about how things grow! Children can learn scientific concepts, cooperation skills, and more when taking part in gardening tasks and activities. It can be intimidating to start a garden if you have never done it before, so here are some tips for getting started!
